Focusing on the Children: Regent Supports National Adoption Awareness Month

Regent made sure to do its part to make National Adoption Awareness month a success. Each November across the country community groups, government agencies, schools, and individuals herald the cause of the hundreds of thousands of orphans in our country.

Throughout the week of November 16 – 21, Regent’s Council of Graduate Students (COGS) sponsored a series of events to raise awareness of orphans’ need for permanent families. Because they will soon be in a position as policy-makers and advocates, Regent’s law students have taken the lead in presenting two key events highlighting the responsibilities legal professionals have to these children.

Tuesday’s Focus on the Children panel brought together experienced professionals from Virginia and D.C., including The Honorable Angela Roberts, Chief Judge of the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, to speak about the policies behind permanency, the needs that foster children face, and what it takes to be a successful adoption practitioner.

The Chairman of the Focus on the Children events, Brooke Bialke, commented, “The panel had a perfect synergy. Not only did they cut to the quick of how we need to serve these children in our profession, it was also evident that great connections between some of Virginia’s most passionate professionals were made. That alone is going to do great things for our children."

On Friday, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-6) visited campus. Bachmann has been working hard in Washington as a passionate reformer on many platforms. However, she has also fostered 23 children, which has molded her into one of Congress’ leading advocates for foster and adopted children.

Bachmann addressed the campus community at a special chapel and discussed policies that impact the family and children at an additional presentation.

Focus on the Children week culminated in Walk Me Home, a fun run/walk on Regent’s campus on Saturday, November 21st. The Walk and other Focus on the Children week activities raised nearly $4,000 to be used by the UP Center to train foster parents, meet the needs of older foster children who are aging out of the system, and find adoptive homes.

“Many of our activities were fundraisers for these great causes,” said Bialke. “But the heart of this week was about sparking a passion in people to consider adoption, or how they can use their careers to impact these children.”